Mastering the Bear 🐻 Front as a Base Package
Jun 24, 2023 2:31 pm
Coach ,
The bear front package has proven to be a powerful strategy that has been helping teams stop the run and remove conflict. Initially it was pigeon-holed as a run defense, mostly for goal line , and knocked for its ability to rush the passer.
However, In his clinic for Lauren’s First and Goal, Jeff Long, head coach at Moravian shared valuable insights into stopping the run, pressuring the quarterback, and using the "bear front" to your advantage in creating one-on-one matchups.
Defensive Style
What started as a goal line defense became a base defense against 10 and 11 personnel with a number of coverages behind. Coach Long explains the Defensive Style of how this fits best for them within their structure.
Defensive Strategy: The Importance of the Bear Front Package
The bear front package has been a staple of Coach Long’s defense for the last six years, being used for both base and pressure purposes. The strategy's effectiveness lies in its ability to create post-snap variety for coverage versatility.
By starting in a two-high structure and rotating between split safety and middle-field closed looks, they can achieve diversity in their defensive approach. This helps create confusion for the opposing side's offensive decision-makers, ultimately leading to a stronger defensive performance.
Stopping the Run with Bear Front
One of the primary objectives of the bear front is to stop the run. By creating different one-on-one matchups for the defense, this strategy makes it difficult for the offensive side to predict and react to defensive movements. The bear front also makes pullers on gap schemes risky and limits protection variety, giving the defense one-on-one matchups and potential wins. This ultimately helps in stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback.
Aggressive Hands-On Technique for Defense
An essential aspect of mastering the bear front is learning aggressive hands-on techniques. These techniques include knockback, “truck over rooster,” and leverage – all aimed at creating separation between the guard and defensive player. By focusing on aggressive hands-on play, players can improve their ability to stop the run and create game-changing opportunities in both the pass and run game.
Edge Rushers: Mastering Gap Rushing and Leverage
Edge rushers play a critical role in the success of the bear front strategy. By mastering gap rushing and leveraging their position, edge rushers can create opportunities in both the pass and run game. The key is to maintain a balance between denting the on-ball blocker and kicking out the off-ball blocker, creating the necessary pressure on the opposing side's offense.
Coach Long shares the benefits of bear in this video:
Examples
To show why this is a good front for them in many situations, Coach Long illustrates with game film how they take away the run and still have the pass covered on this 3rd and 1 situations vs. 11 personnel.
In this next example, he shows the Bear Front on the Goal Line and how the front allows them to dictate match-ups and in this example, not allow the back to get out which is a win for them.
Is it for you?
The bear front package has become an invaluable defensive strategy for Coach Long’s teams. By mastering aggressive hands-on techniques, gap rushing, leverage, and creating one-on-one matchups, they’ve been able to dictate to the offense.
It starts with understanding your structure and how this might fit like Coach Long shared in the first video. It definitely has benefits and has proven effective for Coach Long over an extended period of time.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
P.S.
If you looking for more on the Bear, here are some more great resources:
Phil Kleckler - Bear Front and Its Variations
Bill Reiss- Lackawanna DL Games From Odd & Bear Fronts